The Brother Martin Class of 2026 took part in their Senior Ring Mass, celebrated by Fr. Tony Rigoli and Fr. Stephen Dufrene, CFR, on Thursday, August 21st, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in New Orleans. The Mass and ring reception ceremony rightly order the beginning of senior year for our Crusaders.
Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00 offered a concluding reflection before the seniors received their blessed rings: ”While we do not know what the future holds, we have the past to guide us in faith. And our present – the class of 2026 – serves as inspiration for what the future will bring, no matter what that future looks like. All of it is a waypoint to a stronger community of faith, a stronger city of New Orleans, a stronger world. And, not least of all, a stronger Brother Martin High School.”
The ring itself symbolizes the school’s history, connecting past and future generations, and is a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans.
The crimson stone is encircled by a chain which represents the consolidation in 1969 of St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu High Schools into Brother Martin High School.
Brother Martin crest: Incorporated into the crest are five symbols that reflect the rich tradition of Catholic education that shapes the mission of Brother Martin High School.
The cross, at the center of the shield, represents the central place that Jesus holds in the school and our students’ lives.
The arms of this cross embrace four icons which serve to identify Brother Martin. The upper left quadrant contains the image of a heart, recalling both the love of Christ and the 150-year ministry of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and their partners in mission in New Orleans. Below this, the fleur-de-lis is reminiscent of New Orleans and its French cultural heritage. A book, representing learning, occupies the upper right of the field. A torch, symbolizing the light of Christ and a striving for excellence, completes the crest.
Surmounting the crest is the engraved representation of a pelican. The state bird of Louisiana, the pelican, represents steadfastness and a commitment to the future.
To the right of the crown is the engraved image of a Crusader. The ideal of the Crusader - the ideal that challenges all students at Brother Martin - is to put Christ before all else and to respond to His challenge to spread the gospel to all nations.
